Clinton Questioned in Probe of Labor Secretary Herman

President Clinton was questioned under oath Wednesday at the White House in the influence-peddling investigation of Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman.

The hourlong interview was led by independent counsel Ralph Lancaster, who was named in May 1998 to investigate allegations dating back to Herman’s work as an assistant to Clinton and head of the White House Public Liaison Office before she moved to the Labor Department.

After the questioning was over, White House counsel Beth Nolan issued a statement disclosing that the interview had taken place. “Consistent with prior practice,” she said, “no further statement about the interview will be made.”

Herman’s attorney, Neil Eggleston, said, “This matter related to events that occurred while Secretary Herman was at the White House, so I certainly expected that the independent counsel would meet with the president.”

The investigation centers on allegations that Herman, before joining the Cabinet, engaged in influence-peddling and solicited $250,000 in illegal campaign contributions. She has denied the allegations.

Clinton has said he is confident the probe will find that that she did nothing wrong. Her accuser is Laurent Yene, a Cameroon citizen who does business in the United States.